Semimetallic flexible form for floor domes



March 1 1927.

H. READ ET AL SEMIMETALLIC FLEXIBLE FORM- FOR FLOOR DOMES Filed Sept. 7,1926 Mr) :5: 1/ #2 m/ INVENTORS 1 W BY M ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

"UVNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY READ. OF KANSAS CITY, AND SAMUEL M. HIGGINS, 0F WE BB CITY,MISSOURI.

SEMIMETALLIC FLEXIBLE FORM FOR FLOOR DOMES.

AppIication filed September The present invention relates to apparatusdesigned for use in concrete work, and aims to provide an improved formstructure particularly adapted for use in the construction of concreteflooring, wherein collapsible forms are required for the temporarysupport and forming of the concrete material during the pouringoperation.

Accordingly, we have devised an improved form structure which comprisesflexibly connectedform strips adapted to be readily and convenientlycollapsed either for assembling inoperative position, or in the removalof'the form from its position of use. The device further compriseseflicient bracing means for holding the form rigidly in its operative orsupporting position, and adapted to be conveniently removed forrendering the form collapsible.

In the practical form which we have devised for illustrative purposes,the same comprises a flexible crown sheet having form strips secured toone face thereof but in such a manner as to permit the' flexing of thesheet between the form strips, as required for the collapsing of theform, togetherwith removable brace members for connecting the sidesupporting strips in upright position andatthe same time engaging andaffording support to the intermediate form strips.

lVith the foregoing general objects in view, the invention will now bedescribed by reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating onepractical form of embodiment of the improvement, after which thosefeatures deemed to be novel'will be particularly set forth and claimed;

In the drawing Figure 1 is an end elevation illustrating a formstructure embodying the present invention. and showing its position ofuse in connection with a concrete flooring construction, the latterappearing in vertical section;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the form,representing a section on the line IITI of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an inverted plan view of the form, on a smaller scale; and

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the form, on the samescale as Figure 1,but showing the form in partly collapsed relation.

Referring now to said drawing in detail, this illustrates our improveddevice as comprising a plurality of longitudinal form strips 5 securedin any suitable manner, as by means of the fastenings G, to the under 7,1 926. Serial'No. 133,771.

face of a suitably flexible metallic sheet or plate 7 which is designedto constitute the crown sheet of our form, the use of which is hereinillustrated as a floor dome in the formation of concrete flooring, madeup of the beam or girder construction 8 connected by the concreteflooring 9, as shown in Figure 1; To the side margins of the crown sheet7 are also connected, as by fastenings' 6, longitudinal supporting formstrips 10 of a width corresponding approximately to the desired depth ofgirder '8, the sheet or plate Ybeing connected to the upper margins ofsaid form strips 10. The form strip-s 5 are connected to the sheet orplate 7 in spaced relation to each other, as well as to the uppermargins of the side supporting form strips 10, in order to render theform device flexible between the strips 5, as well as between'the strips5 and 10 atthe upper corners of the form, as required in the collapsingof the device as illustrated in Figure 4. i

For affording the proper rigidity to the form when in operativeposition, we provide suitable. rigid bracing members 12 adapted to'bemounted transversely within the end portions of the form or at whateverintervals may be necessary in practice; vfor this purpose,-the sidesupporting form strips 10 are provided with bracket plates 14 secured bynails or the like 15 to the inner faces of said ders 16 cut in saidbrackets 14 for accommodating the ends of the bracing strips 12 in sucha position that the upper edges of the bracing strips 12 are insupporting engage ment with the longitudinal form strips '5, while theends of the bracing members 12 hold the side supporting members 10spread apart the required distance as illustrated in Figure 1. Forholding the bracing members 12 in this relation, the same are providedwith latch hooks 17 adapted to engage eyes 18 attached to the innerfaces of the form members 10, as illustrated in Figures 1. and 2.

The mode of use of our improved form of device will be readilyunderstood in the light of the foregoing description, and Figure 1 ofthe drawing. It is merely necessary to open the structure and mount thesame in upright position upon the soffetplates 20 or other supportingmeans provided in the building construction, and then insert the bracingmembers 12 within the notched portions 16 of the brackets 14 of the formmembers 10, and latch them in lace by means of the latch hooks 17. Inthis manner a rigid form structure is provided, the bracing members 12not only maintaining the side supporting form members 10 in pro )erupright supporting position, but also lending the required unyieldingsupport to the longitudinal 'form strips which carry the crownsheet 7.After the pouring of the concrete material 8-9 has taken place, and theconcrete has settled and hardened suiliciently, it is apparent that theform struc ture may be readily and conveniently removed by simplunlatching and removing the bracing mem ers 12, whereupon the flexiblecharacter of the crown sheet 7 between the longitudinal members 5 and 10willpermit the remainder of the form to be collapsed by a contractingaction such asillustrated in Figure 4, and without any binding actionupon the concrete material, so thatthe whole device is readily andquickly removed from its ope -atiye position.

It will thus be seen that we have devised a practical and ci'licient.form device for carrying out the desired objects of the invention, andthat the same of a light, inexpensive character adapted to be cheaplyconstructed and of a durable nature which is also adapted to beeconomical in its use. lVhile we have illustrated what we now re gard asthe preferred form of construction, we desire to reserve the right tomake all such changes or modifications which may fairly fall within thescope of the appended claims.

What we claim is: i

1. A form structure for concrete floor Work, comprising a flexible crownsheet, spaced longitudinal reinforcing members secured to one face ofsaid sheet, rigid side supporting members attached to the side marginsof said sheet and in spaced relation to said reinforcing members, andrigid brace members carried by said supporting members in supportingengagement with said reinforcing members. i

2. A form structure for concrete floor work, comprising a flexible crownsheet, spaced longitudinal reinforcing members secured to. the underface of said sheet, rigid side supporting members attached to the sidemargins of said sheet and spaced slightly from said reinforcing members,and brace means removably connecting said side members and in supportingengagement with said reinforcing members.

A form structure for concrete floor work, comprising a flexible crownsheet, a series of longitudinal term strips secured to one face of saidsheet and in spaced relation to each other, and rigid brace members remoaibly connecting the outer of said strips in upright supporting positionand engaged in supporting relation with said intermediate form strips.

4. A form structure for concrete floor work, comprising a flexible crownsheet, spaced longitudinal reinforcing members secured to the under faceof said sheet, rigid side supporting members attached to the sidemargins of said sheet and spaced slightly from said reinforcing members,brackets carried by said side members, and brace members removablymounted on said brackets in supporting engagement with said reinforcingmembers.

5. A form structure for concrete floor work, comprising a flexible crownsheet, spaced longitudinal reinforcing members secured to the under faceof said sheet, rigid side supporting members attached to the sidemargins of said sheet and spaced slightly from said reinforcing members,brackets carried by said side members and formed with shoulders, bracemembers removably mounted on the shoulders of said brackets insupporting engagement with said reinforcing members, and means forlatching said brace members on said shoulders.

In witness whereof we hereunto aflix our signatures.

HENRY READ. SAMUEL M. HIGGINS.

